GERMANY’S PATH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 294, 25 September 1935, Page 8

GERMANY’S PATH

NOT TOWARD WAR. NAZI LEADER’S ARGUMENT. There is no occasion for me to tell you that a nation, particularly when it is efficient, must protect itself, writes Rudolf Hess, the Nazi leader, in the Sydney “Daily Telegraph.” Protection is required by the people in order that they may pursue thenwork in peace —protection on land, on sea, and in the air. For years Germany believed that she could forego this protection, but the result was that foreign countries continually disturbed and even hindered her work. The most glaring example of this was the occupation of the Ruhr, the area in which German industry is most concentrated. The facts cannot be denied, that in international relations the rights of a people are only secure when it has power. But Germany has a right to work undisturbed, and a right to protect her peace. It would be criminal neglect on the part of the German Government were it not to secure Germany’s rights by providing the necessary power. For Germany, who is waging the great figlft against unemployment and for the renewal of her national life, the ideal aim of the maintenance of peace is at the same time a practical necessity. Hitler was a front-line fighter, and so was I; and most of his collaborators were front-line fighters, too, in the most frightful war oi all times. We know what war means, and therefore we love peace. We know that the Great War claimed the lives of fifteen million men. But we also know that peace is all the better secured, the less any adventurous neighbours may have the feeling that the invasion of German territory would be a military parade.

Precautionary Steps. The world now knows that the new Germany has done everything to prevent the possible invasion of foreign troops becoming a military parade. Hardly ever has a nation been so determined to defend itself to the last man if necessary as is the German nation to-day.

Even before the Avar Lloyd George said, according to the “Daily Chronicle” of January 1, 1914: “The German army is a vital necessity, not only for the German empire, but also for the independence and life of the Gorman nation, which is surrouded by peopls whose armies are early all as large as the entire German army. And how much better does this remark fit to-day!

If you ask me how Germany finds the money for her re-armament I can reply that the great/r part of the necessary materials is available in her own country, while the supply of labour is, unfortunately, more than ample. It is merely a matter of internal organisation to produce the necessary weapons with the aid of materials and labour available, while the lacking raw materials, which have to be Imported from abroad, play but a minor part. Even if the world to-day does not do full justice to Germany. I am convinced that the future history will say: “Germany did the right thing.” Perhaps future history will also state, that, owing to the restoration of Germany’s self-defence, a fresh war in Europe was prevented, because the attraction which an unarmed State is to its highly-armed neighbours was eliminated.

I emphasise that the German Government has no desire to cut itself off from foreign countries. Germany desires relations with other countries, and by no means least of all in the economic sphere. The exchange of commodities leads to an exchange in other fields, which promotes mutual understanding, and thus the cause of peace. On the other, the German Government would be lacking in principle if it did nut take steps in good time to prevent dangerous boycotting tendencies by preparing suitable measures. A New Country. The world is faced by a new Germany, a Germany with a firmly-estab-lished. Government, which is fully aware of its duties. This new State and its Government has been created by, and has its origin in, the NationalSocialist Movement. Germany would have been lost if the one man had not come who created National Socialism, namely Adolf Hitler.

Was his coming a mere accident? I do not think so. 1 believe that to nations which do ndl deserve to be destroyed, and which still have a task to perform in this world, Providence sends the right man at the right time, who preserves them from destruction. But such-a man must then, wield authoritative power. Perhaps you will object that it is not good that one man should have all the pouier“in liis own hands. Perhaps you will object that, after all, even Adolf Hitler may run the risk of exercising his autocratic powers arbitrarily and without-duo consideration.

1 can‘only reply that the dictates of a moral person’s conscience are a greater protection against the misuse of an office .than parliamentary organs of control or a division of power. And I know from my knowledge of Adolf Hitler as an individual that no cue can feel himself more responsible to his conscience, and, owing to his conscience, to his people, than ho duos. May the world at last be convinced that Hitler’s Government does not for a. momenjt think of steering toward war, as is often stated abroad. No war will do away with the distress which prevails in every nation, but the realisation that, in place of the antagonism among nations, we must have the sympathetic collaboration of nations.